Hey, everyone, welcome back to bet Your Happy Hour.

I'm Joe and I'm Serena and we are here today with Carol.

Carol, welcome to bet your Happy Hour.

Thank you, thanks for having me.

Okay, so we have a lot to cover because as soon as you came on this podcast, we started talking and we're gonna talk about all that on air right now.

So you are born in Ontario, like Serena.

Yeah, yeah, we're part of Ontario.

Okay, so not the pretty part.

I shouldn't say this, but I was born in Windsor, right across the bridge from Detroit where mills.

Okay, yes, we know exactly where that is.

My sister has some friends in Kingsville, which I believe is out that way, so she goes out there a lot.

Yeah, and I still have a lot of family in Toronto as well.

So you really do you go back often?

I haven't been back.

Well.

So my daughter plays for Tennis Canada, the one who's a professional tennis player.

Okay, so she trained in Montreal, so I would go back and forth in Montreal quite a bit.

She left the house when she was fifteen sixteen to go train Canada.

So anyway, blah, blah blah.

Anyway, so that's last time I was there.

Do you have dual citizenship?

Nice?

Okay, I'm gonna have to reach out to you because I just got my Green card in the spring, and I believe it's like two or three years and then I can apply for citizenship and I want dual.

I want to keep my Canadian citizenship, which is okay to.

Me, keep the duel in fact, because I went to I'll talk to you later, because I went the whole process with my younger daughter.

The one.

Okay, were your kids born in the US?

Yes?

Okay, and then you got them dual citizenship as well.

I did.

Okay.

How did we like those two passports?

Yes, we do.

How did you make your way over to the States?

Okay, Well, my dad actually worked for a company in Detroit and so he got transferred.

So he always worked in the United States.

So then he got transferred to California, and so we all moved, you know, to California.

So I went to Windsor when I turned seventeen, because everyone says that because it was because it was legal to gamble.

When you're eighteen.

It's legal to gamble.

Oh, I've been to Windsor.

I'm like, yeah, I know what you went there for.

Okay.

Yeah, it's the same as Torontonians when they're like seventeen going to Montreal.

You're like, I know why you're going.

To Carol when you came.

When when I found out you were our guests on this podcast, I went back on my uh my Twitter or my ex and where did I Where did I save that tweet?

Where's that tweet?

Oh?

Here it is?

Four.

Freddy Freeman is just unreal.

It was when it was it was one of the playoff games when he hit I think when he hit that game winning home run.

Oh man, that night so awesome.

You tell her that night was okay.

So he wasn't having the best game that day.

Yeah.

So we're in the seats right there, you know, we're like practically touching him, right and we decided let's just go up to the suite because it was too stressful.

We're like, right.

So he gets up to bat, and if you remember two weeks before him, they're playing the Mets, the same scenario.

Yeah, he work out okay, and the game was over.

So I was just praying.

I was like, Lord, just get him a hit, just get him on.

I don't want him to make the last out, just get right.

So so we're up there watching him blah blah blah, and all of a sudden, because if you know my nephew, he's not a showboater guy at all.

Right, when he hit it and he held up his bat, the ball wasn't out yet, so I knew right then, if he did that, that thing's going out.

I was like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my god.

It was like it was so incredible, it was.

I was so proud of him.

So, well, you know what I mean, playoffs start today.

I know we're going tonight.

In fact, I'm at his house right now.

Really, he's in the room eating breakfast.

I'm a Cubs fan.

You were chic.

We're in the playoffs.

The game starts in an hour.

The Blue Jays are in the playoffs, you know what.

So we're really good friends.

Dancy Swanson is a great friend of mine.

I love him and mel Yeah, so I want him to do well.

I always root for Dansby.

So yeah, well we'll see.

Did they did they play together in Atlanta?

Right?

Would they have played together?

Freddie Freeman and Swanson?

Yeah, they did.

Yeah, that's how we got to know them.

Yeah, okay, that makes sense.

You should really have a sports podcast, you know, more about.

Yeah, I mean, I mean, if we start, if we keep going, I'll probably Okay.

Let's yeah, let's get a little bit into why you're here.

How did you How did you wind up on The Golden Bachelor.

Well, we watched the first couple of seasons and I thought was great.

I'm like, that is so fun.

Gosh, everyone that's you know, because it's a little gold is a little bit different than the regular you know, it's a little more tame, which is good for me.

Anyway, my daughter wrote in for me, My daughter, Cassidy, my oldest daughter, wrote in for me, and I didn't hear back.

So I thought, oh, well, I guess I didn't get on the show.

And all of a sudden I got a text when I leave in my dad's house and said are you still interested?

They're not like, and this is the whole process, just like I don't have a chat and then you don't hear anything.

I mean when I when I got approached to the show, I thought they were asking me to be the bachelor.

I didn't know if you know how it worked.

I was like, oh, maybe I was so clueless.

I was really I guess ignorance is bliss, don't know, but anyway, So yeah, so my daughter wrote in and I ended up getting on the show.

So that was fun.

Are you divorced?

I am.

How long have you been single or have you dated since your divorce?

What has that been?

Like?

You know, I really haven't didd Okay.

So I got divorced in twenty twenty and I lost like male, I lost my mom the same year.

Who was my best friend?

Who's the worst year ever?

The whole COVID blah blah blah.

You know, it's just it was a It was a year anyway, and I really haven't dated.

Remember, I had a daughter that was still in high school and raising an athlete.

We were raising her to be a pro athlete.

All three of my daughters played tennis collegiate d one, my oldest played at East Year of Mine here in California, and then my middle one played at University of Southern USC and then my youngest one played college tennis too.

She so she turned pro last year.

So but I'm just saying I had young kids still and tennis raising tennis players is like a golfer or gymnast.

I homeschooled, and I'm the worst student ever.

People are like, you're home schooler.

Yeah, sorry, so homeschooled my girls.

I had him on the court.

I was actually feeding the balls, you know, doing drills whatever.

So I was always in this.

You know, I didn't have a lot of time.

I was focused on my girls, and so I really didn't date.

And you know, I could date, but I don't want to just date anyone either, So you know, I don't want to waste my time if it's not someone I think could be a potential I date to get married.

I guess that's what.

Yeah, sounds fair.

That's why the show is great.

And he's vanid, so why not go?

It's stroll.

Did you play tennis growing up or do you play any sports?

I did.

I played tennis, but not my daughter's level.

I never got to what they were.

Okay, you know what they say, here's a good tip for you two young, beautiful married people.

They say, don't live through your children.

I did get the memo, all right, gosh started they're gonna be fresh professional tennis players.

Hey, but you know what, it worked out and I'm sure they're they're thanking you for it.

What what was your thoughts when Mao was announced as the lead?

I was very happy about because when I saw this picture, was like, okay, good because you don't know.

We didn't.

I didn't know when I when I was going for the through this process, I didn't know who it was.

I mean, it could have been someone you know you're not really attracted to, right, Yeah, And when I saw him, like, okay, okay, game on?

Is he your type?

Totally?

Okay?

Is I love?

I loved your like when you did the stand up bet and you joked about Mel's like forty year old comment, You're like me too.

That was great, so funny.

I thought it really stood out.

But when he did say that, did you have an issue with that?

At first it was kind of I kind of I did, kind of sting a little.

Yeah, And then I.

Thought to myself, Wait, Carol, wouldn't you want to date someone younger?

Be good?

That's fair?

Yeah, right, why are you doing such a hard time?

Okay, it's a forty five year old guy wants to take me out?

Come on, right, yeah your cares?

I was like, yeah, it's it's fine.

It didn't really at first.

It was because like, oh gosh, and I was thinking, Okay, does he not know what the show is about?

The age limit?

That kind of threw me off too, because I'm thinking he got the job.

Did he not know the whole job?

I don't know.

I know we were like, no one told him he's the Golden Bachelor.

Well, but this season also has it's definitely skewed on the younger side.

Younger than the first season of The Golden Bachelor for sure.

Yeah, yeah, Gary was Gary was seventy one.

All that day.

I thought Gary was like seventy five.

Yeah, it might be seventy five now he could be Yeah.

Okay.

So you go through the process once you get the call and they're like, okay, Carol, you are cast it on the show.

What do you What do your daughters say?

Okay, Cassidy and Constance my oldest two, great mom, fantastic, My daughter Carson, the one who's the pro tennis flayer, not so happy.

Oh really yeah, but yeah.

Well you know she's on the line.

She's an athlete too, and in fact, uh so she I don't know, I don't know if she thought it'd be like seeing her mom and she kisses on camera, or she don't want to see you know, you know certain things.

Probably and I think she probably didn't want to see me heart or you know whatever.

But she she does, she hasn't.

I don't know.

We'll see, We'll see.

I'm so ready for developments for her because she hasn't even watched the show.

Okay, do you think she's going.

To I think so.

I think so.

I hope so, because I think she'd be really proud of it.

It's a great show and the women are incredible, and it's it's it's a it's a good family show.

Actually, I mean it's a show about new beginnings.

And so I hope she does.

I think she'll come around.

I think she will.

I think she will if she's If you're listening to this, you should watch your mom.

You he's so proud of her.

Yeah, right now you are coming across great and we're episode four four.

Yeah, so you don't have anything to worry about.

Okay, good, good.

What were you feeling when you went on the show.

Were you nervous, excited?

Both?

Okay, I was I was nervous.

I was more nervous about the clothes to tell you the truth, because you know, they give you that list of everything and I'm like, oh my gosh, what am I gonna do?

So but I was a little nervous because other women.

Of course, I'm that's tough right there, going on a show and the whole premise of it.

But you know what you're getting into, right, But I was a little nervous.

Actually, I think that's fairy.

How do you feel stepping out of the limo?

A little anxious, but I was excited because I just want to see him in person, So definitely nervous.

I just wanted to see him in person.

And when I did, I was like, Okay, this guy, he looks even better in person.

Was there a connection?

Did you feel a connection?

I did?

Okay, I did at first?

Yeah, and then how about who like that first couple of days out of the women, did you connect with crew?

Uh?

So my crew?

Okay?

Was I connected with Jerry?

She was like my best bud?

And Sydney.

But the very first night who I sat next to was Nicole.

I just Nicole and Maya were next to me, and but may obviously didn't get through the first night, which I was like dying.

I was like, Okay, if she doesn't get through, what is this guy looking for?

I mean she liked Sidney Crawfer.

I'm like, oh my gosh, that's what everyone said.

Like we were shocked too that she went home, but like everyone has compared her to Sidney Crawford that we've talked to, and.

Everyone that comes on is like, we couldn't believe that my went home.

She was beautiful and smart and her kids are successful.

I mean they went to Stanford play sport.

I mean she's like she's she's a catch.

So I was like, I was shocked that she went and but yeah, it was Nicole.

I we kind of just would always were sitting next to each other, and then and then the Rose ceremony, we're standing next next to each other, and then yeah, so just she's probably my first friend.

And then then Jerry.

The first night I was sitting next to Jerry and we just hit it off.

I we're both believers, and I really think that God brought us together.

I'm not kidding.

She's just amazing.

She's amazing.

Yeah, she's what.

We're friends for life for sure.

So we see on this episode.

I just want to get your thoughts on this we see on this episode.

Nicole kind of you know, she's she's at the table.

I'm pretty I'm pretty sure you were there talking about like she's not just dating mel she's dating America, and like she kind of like wants to be an influencer and all that kind of happens.

Do you remember what the women were saying and feeling about, because there's.

Definitely women in the house that at this point, and you're not one of them, but there's definitely women that are frustrated by frustrated with Nicole.

Yes, So the influencer thing not as much for me that I heard about as the kissing.

Like the kissing was a lot of people are rubbed the wrong way about the kissing.

All my jobs beforehand, before I do right now and all that kind of stuff.

I work with all women, so I kind of take it with a grain of salt.

Right, So, how did you feel about the kissing, because we do see that she feels very comfortable being affectionate with mal in front of the other women.

It was a little it was a little uncomfortable.

I have to say, yeah, I think I think it would be uncomfortable kind of for anyone, you know, right, I mean I think it's uncomfortable just watching Yeah, just random people kiss right.

Joe, No, I love it make out.

I see that.

But yeah, like I would be I would be uncomfortable too if I was if I was on the show, and like, yeah, the person that I'm going for is just like making out with one person in the middle.

Okay, look, can you imagine the rules were reversed?

Okay, can you imagine being the woman bachelor and a guy coming up all the time.

How would you feel, you know, just making out all the time, and like, let's say you're going on on a date and all of a sudden he comes and makes out with her before you go on your date.

The thing is a woman would have said no, but the guy is just like all right.

Yeah, Like if it was a bunch of male contestants, there's a there's a potential fight happening.

Oh yeah, you know if a guy keeps doing that, one of the other guy contestants is eventually going to go, hey, man, enough is enough?

Yeah?

Right, yeah, it was.

It was definitely uncomfortable.

That was definitely But then you gotta say, well, you have limited time right on the show to get to stand out, So I don't know, maybe I should have been doing that.

We'll see, I don't know.

We see in the first episode and kind of throw the season so far that something that you and Mel obviously have in common is your love for sports.

What else did you guys kind of bond over when you were getting to know each other.

Well, that we both kind of made more sacrifices than normal with our children.

I think that was a common can I even talk?

No, I can't, like you, so I need more of this this morning.

Okay.

So, so I think we had that in common because you know, it is a lot of sacrifice to raise an athlete, and it takes.

If you're still working like I am and he was, you have limited time, so the time your free time is with your kids.

So I think we kind of connected on that for sure.

And you guys both live in La right.

We both are in La.

Yeah, I think that's I think that's pretty important because especially you know when you go on this show when you live in different cities, it does make it more difficult to make it work.

After it does, it does, And we actually live really close.

We live twelve miles from each other.

Oh wow, Yeah, it's it's really it's really close.

It's great.

Yeah, that is nice.

Okay, so we see, we see on this episode you're on a group date.

You've just got to go out there on a towel.

You're uncomfortable.

Yeah, we see you're really uncomfortable with that, which fair because everyone else is fully closed.

And then they threw you a Carol, here's a towel we ran out of close.

Yeah, yeah, each towel.

I get the town.

Okay, And this is probably my youngest darter's biggest spirit, right seeing a sees some hit her mom like in a towel on the beach.

But guess what.

I so I was freaking out about it, and you know what, by the end of it, I was like, this is the best thing ever.

I mean, it looked like you were you looked great, look scandalous.

Do you think it was like you were in a drop less dress.

I had a ball And guess what.

The towel covers more than most everyone's bathing suit.

I'm like, what did I what did I freak out for the stupidest thing ever?

But I had I had the best time that day.

I had a really good time.

So oh good, Yeah, it did still end up once you were in the towel and doing the photos, you did seem to become more comfortable, more confident, and you're so right, You're covering more than if you were in a bikini.

You bathing so right.

But I think just thinking like I would be the same, I'd be like, oh my god, I'm in a towel.

Yeah, And I think that's what it was.

It was just the representation that it's a towel and everyone's in these cute bathing suits and really sexy l and I come in this white hell.

I mean I personally like I would rather wear a towel than like a speed all on the show, Like I would be, I would I would, I would be I'm not wearing a speed out, Yeah, you know, a towel.

I'd be like, okay, yeah, No.

The towel ended up being really fun, so it actually was.

I had a ball, It was really fun.

It was one of the best days.

Yeah, we had a good time.

Okay, So we see you get some one on one time with mel You're an interview and you're kind of like, I don't kiss guys.

I want a guy to kiss me, which is fair, And then yeah, I kind of walk us through that moment because Mel is being a little more relaxed.

He's kind of like leaning back, yeah yeah, and you're like you're like, you're like I want to be pursued a little bit, which is fair.

And he's kind of like, I'm the bachelor.

Like it feels like you want Mel to give you a little more, yeah, like a little more something something, And he is kind of looking for you to give him a little more because he keeps saying, I want you to open up.

I want to see more size of you.

So, yeah, tell us about this conversation.

Well, so you know what this whole show is, right, go get the guy.

He's got all these women after him, right, Okay, so.

On fair advantage, like I said in our fair advantage for.

Sure, right, And I'm very traditional, like the man comes to you blah, Well I'm on the show, so obviously I got to I got to rewire my brain, right, But it's hard to rewire your brain.

I mean, I'm I'm very traditional.

So it was it was kind of a conflict in my head because I'm waiting for him to do a little bit more and whatever.

And so I said to him that night I said, look, weren't you a football player.

Isn't that kind of an aggressive sport?

I mean, come on, you can give me a little more as well.

Right, yeah, so.

You know, and I thought, what do you say to that?

And he's like he kind of said well, and I'm like, come on right, so and then that whatever I saw, I just I went inway.

He's a very good kisser.

By the way, do you feel like, where do you feel like your connection with mel is at at this point?

Pretty good.

We had a really good time.

I was really bummed that we had to go back to the house.

I wanted to like just have everyone leave and just us hang out for the rest of the night, watch a sense that you know.

That's not the way the show works.

That's How did you feel getting the group date?

Rose?

I loved it.

It was so much fun.

It made me feel so great.

I was on cloud nine.

Asked girls.

We got back in the van and I'm like, wooh, I got my little bad bunny on and like dance and I was happy it was.

It was fun.

It was a great thing.

It's got to feel good too, because you kind of put yourself out there.

You went out of your comfort zone, you like kissed him.

It was a good moment.

And then to be rewarded for that with the roads are validated, it's got to feel good.

Yeah.

Yeah, because can you imagine if I put myself out there and it's like.

EMM, that's horrible.

Gosh, you know, So it was.

It was fun.

I had a great day that day.

I'm glad.

You know the thing about this show is it really pushes you to be to do things that are very uncomfortable, and at my age, it's great.

I like it.

I like learning every day and I like I like being uncomfortable.

It's kind of fun.

You don't know what's and you don't know what's going to happen each day.

So what does it feel like being on the show Now you're you're four or five year you know whatever.

We're four episodes in.

Are you having fun?

Is it a pleasant surprise?

Is a what you thought?

You know?

I didn't have any expectations going into this, but I it exceeded my expectations.

Let's just put it that way.

I'm a ball.

It's it's better than I anticipated.

Yeah, it's great, great show, wonderful people.

The women on the show are incredible, they really are, I mean the professional, incredible, shape, smart, beautiful, and so in my group of I have the same group of friends I've had since has in fourth grade and that they're all at the first show in preview, right, I'm but they're all married and the two that aren't have long term boyfriends.

I'm the only single person.

So it's it's really comforting to go into a place where there's twenty three other women that have similar similarities to me, like they're single and and they're living life and they're still learning and they're active, and so for me, it was I was so grateful for it.

It was it was the greatest experience ever for sure.

Yeah, I could imagine that that makes sense out of Okay, so there's there's six women left.

You had the group day row, so you don't have to worry at the rows ceremony.

But out of all the women there, in your opinion, and maybe it's yourself, but who do you feel like has the strongest connection with mel at this point?

I would say Cindy.

Okay, Okay, that's kind of what it looks like the show at this point.

And you know it could be Nicole too, because you know, I would both of them have pretty good connections for sure, Cindy and Nicole.

So was it surprising every week who went home?

Or were you guys able to kind of get a gauge on who Mel had stronger relationships with.

I I kind of had a gauge on it.

I kind of was he doesn't seem to have a great poker face.

No, no, yeah, I would say the women that he doesn't like, they know.

Well, doesn't like.

He's like, I'm cut at your right.

But not connecting to yes, yeah right, romantic connection yeah.

Yeah, no he he yeah.

I don't think he hides it so well.

Yeah, I agree.

So you're going on the Golden Bachelor, you're single.

If you were to write out a list of what you're looking for in a man, what would be on that list?

Good question?

Okay, that's a great question for me.

Now, okay, so look, squays and everything, Mel is like fantastic.

Okay, you like an athlete athlete.

Athlete for sure.

I mean he doesn't have to be a professional athlete, but you know, just someone you know, athlete well at least knows about sports.

I could not date someone who doesn't know about sports.

I just they wouldn't even fit my family.

I mean, that's all we do about growing up, the TV was on.

I was the youngest of three brothers, so I had three older brothers.

I never had any of my shows on.

Okay, in those days, you didn't have a TV in their room.

We always had sports on.

I mean, and I like, I'll put it on the background just while I'm playing the house, just because it's comforting to me anyway, So he has to have like he has, like sports.

Okay, I I would like someone.

Okay, I want someone who's a Christian and yeah sports is that that's not too many things.

Sports and Christian.

That's pretty you know, that's very doable, not too hard.

No, if Mel, if Mel doesn't choose you at the end, we obviously we don't know, but he doesn't.

If he doesn't and they do Bachelor in Paradise again, would you do that show?

Maybe?

Yeah, maybe I'd have to like not eat hawthe was at the Dodger game for the next couple of weeks.

You'll be fine.

Screw the means who just show up in a towel.

I just need to tell that easy packing.

I could have just a carry on.

Yep, just beach towels.

Just have different towels for each day.

That'd be okay.

I'm in if you never know, I could you know, Okay, not this ring.

But maybe you know that's cool.

Look at that.

Well, we were at we were at we were at the game where the Dodgers won the World Series against the Yankees, or you were Yeah, we went to that game.

Oh my gosh, that was a great World Series.

I'm a little bumm because oh I shouldn't be a little but we are going on vacation.

But we're going to South Korea and Tokyo over the next two and a half weeks.

So I'm going to miss a lot of MLB playoffs, you.

Know, but it's gonna be okay.

But I won't canceling once in a lifetime.

What a wonderful trip.

That's so great.

Thank you.

Yeah, we're excited.

Oh my god, I love you as a couple.

By the way, Oh thank you.

Guys are perfect.

You give you give everyone hope.

There we work well together.

You really do.

So far, so good.

Even though I had a bad dream about Serena last night, but I'm not going to get in there.

Still always has dreams that I leave himself.

Last, last, but not least, for women going on the next season of The Golden Bachelor, what advice would you give them.

To really embrace every day and to relax and just to be yourself.

And I know everyone says that, but once those cameras are on you, it's kind of hard to be yourself.

You're like, wait, should I say that?

I don't know, I don't know, You're always like kind of.

You know, it's tough.

Not sure, thinking, overthinking it, definitely overthinking it.

So just be yourself and and I think you'd have a great time.

I mean, I loved it.

I'm so grateful for the experience, and I hope more women do this going forward, because if you're single and you want to get on a show like this, it's it's incredible.

It really is.

It's changed my life and everyone says, oh show, yeah it did it?

Actually did?

It changed my life.

So I'm very happy I did it.

It changed our lives too, for serrenas for the better.

Yes, Carol, thank you, thank you so much for coming on Bachelor Happy Hour.

It was great.

It was great meeting you.

And if the Cubs don't win the World Series, I hope the Dodgers do.

Thank you, thank you, Yeah, listening.

To all our listeners.

Thank you guys so much for tuning into Bachelor Happy Hour.

Make sure you download and subscribe to the podcast.

We will have new and exclusive interviews every single week.

Thanks for listening.

Bye,